Published: 17/08/2013 07:35 AM

Live Coverage: Egypt crackdown

Egypt's Islamists called for a "Friday of anger" in Cairo after nearly 600 people were killed

Egypt's Islamists called for a "Friday of anger" in Cairo after nearly 600 people were killed following a crackdown on their protest camps, as the UN urged "maximum restraint" from all sides.

"Anti-coup rallies... will depart from all mosques of Cairo and head towards Ramsis square after [traditional Friday] prayer in 'Friday of Anger'," Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad wrote on Twitter.

The call raised fears of fresh violence after the death toll from nationwide clashes following Wednesday's operation to clear two protest camps supporting ousted president Mohamed Morsi rose to 578, making it Egypt's bloodiest day in decades.

Follow up-to-the-minute coverage here:

[21:40] The US on Friday urged Egypt to avoid using "lethal force" against demonstrators, as the death toll from a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi continued to mount.

[21:28] The Iranian foreign minister on Friday urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to intervene in member state Egypt to contain a deadly crackdown on Islamists, state television reported.

[21:10] France and Britain called Friday for Europe to send a strong message on the escalating crisis in Egypt, urging the EU to review its relations with Cairo.

[20:58] Jordan said on Friday it backs Egypt's efforts to "impose rule of law" and "combat terrorism," in its first official reaction to the deadly crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

[20:35] A senior UN official will visit Cairo next week to discuss the violent political crisis unfolding in Egypt, the United Nations said Friday.

[19:50] More than 60 people were killed across Egypt on Friday in clashes between Islamist protesters and security forces, according to tolls from witnesses, security sources and the health ministry.

[19:18] Saudi King Abdullah pledged his country's support to Egypt's fight on "terrorism," saying it was the military-backed government's "legitimate right," in a speech aired on official Al-Ekhbariya television Friday.

[19:10] At least 39 bodies were seen in two Cairo mosques Friday as clashes were underway between Islamists and security forces, witnesses and an AFP correspondent said.

The reporter saw at least 19 bodies in one mosque, and witnesses reported more than 20 in another.

[11:05] French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel plan to discuss the Egypt crisis in a telephone call at 1200 GMT Friday, a diplomatic source said.

[7:30] Egypt's Islamists called for a "Friday of anger" in Cairo after nearly 600 people were killed following a crackdown on their protest camps, as the UN urged "maximum restraint" from all sides.

[4:59] Egypt's Christians are living in fear after a string of attacks against churches, businesses and homes they say were carried out by angry supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

[3:04] The Argentine president of the UN Security Council urged all parties in the crisis inEgyptto exercise "maximum restraint" Thursday, following an emergency meeting in New York.

[2:51] Egypt's president on Friday suggested US President Barack Obama's condemnation of a deadly crackdown on Islamists may "encourage violent armed groups.”

[1:10] Egyptian police on Thursday entered a Cairo mosque containing the bodies of several dozen killed Islamist protesters after a brief standoff during which they fired tear gas, Islamist activists said.

[0:39] Turkey recalled its ambassador toEgyptThursday following a bloody crackdown on supporters of the country's ousted Islamist president, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

[21:20] Egypt's Tamarod group, which launched the call for mass protests that led to the ousting of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, urged all Egyptians to take to the streets on Friday to defend the country from "terrorism".

[20:52] France, Britain and Australia jointly requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the deadly violence in Egypt, diplomats said Thursday.

[20:29] The United States will retain its military ties with Egypt but more violence by the army could jeopardize the relationship, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the country's military chief Thursday.

[20:01] Militants in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Thursday killed seven soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint, security officials said.

[18:32] Egypt faces new polarization and the potential for further violence after a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi turned into a bloodbath, analysts say.

[18:16] Militants in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Thursday killed seven soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint, security officials said.

[17:43] The further the black-clad Egyptian policemen tightened the noose on the Rabaa al-Adawiya protest camp, the more desperate became the search for a place to lay out the protesters felled by their gunfire.

[17:32] US President Barack Obama on Thursday canceled exercises with Egypt's military to protest the killing of hundreds of protesters but stopped short of suspending $1.3 billion in annual aid.

[14:27] Fresh violence hit Egypt Thursday, with Islamists going on the counterattack a day after a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi sparked clashes that killed hundreds and drew international censure.

[14:15] Pope Francis said on Thursday he was praying for the victims of the violence in Egypt that has left more than 500 people dead and appealed for "peace, dialogue and reconciliation."

[13:41] Britain has summoned Egypt's ambassador to express its "deep concern" at the deadly violence in the country and urged the authorities to act with "the greatest restraint," the Foreign Office said on Thursday.

[12:40] Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged tourists to avoid trips to Egypt because of raging violence that has claimed more than 400 lives and spread to provinces outside the capital Cairo.

[12:35] Egyptian authorities have closed the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip "indefinitely" for security reasons after a day of deadly violence nationwide, a security official told AFP on Thursday.

[12:29] Al-Hayat Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood plans to hold a rally in the afternoon in Cairo.

[12:27] French President Francois Hollande said Thursday that "everything must be done to avoid a civil war" in Egypt, after a crackdown by security forces on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi left over 460 people dead.

[12:22] Alyoum al-Sabea: War planes, army reinforcements deployed to sensitive locations in Suez.

[12:12] Two youths walk past a partially burned Coptic Church in Minya. (AFP)

[11:57] European and US newspapers on Thursday condemned the crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in Egypt, and urged Washington to act to push both sides towards reconciliation.

[11:30] Denmark announced Thursday it has suspended development aid to Egypt, in response to the "bloody events" sparked by a crackdown on the protest camps of supporters of the country's ousted Islamist president.

[11:20] The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have separately voiced support for a deadly assault by Egypt's security forces on Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, saying it was the state's duty to restore order.

[10:22] Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting over Egypt's bloody crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, which has left hundreds dead.

[7:40] Egypt was under a tense state of emergency Thursday after security forces stormed the Cairo protest camps supporting ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, in a bloody assault that sparked violence across the country which officials said claimed 278 lives.

[00:00] An Egyptian man looks at corpses at a makeshift morgue. (AFP/Mosaab el-Shamy)

[21:49] Egyptian Interim Prime minister Hazem al-Beblawi praised police for their "self-restraint" on Wednesday and said the country remains committed to an army-drafted roadmap which calls for elections in 2014.

[21:32] US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday urged Egypt's military to allow elections and for all sides to avoid further violence.

[20:51] France called Wednesday for "an immediate halt to the crackdown" in Egypt and urged the United Nations and its partners to take a joint stand, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.

"France condemns most resolutely the bloody violence in Egypt and demands an immediate halt to the crackdown," Fabius said.

[16:50] Egypt declared a month-long state of emergency Wednesday as violence raged across the country following a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

[16:47] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday condemned a police crackdown on protesters in Egypt that he said had left hundreds dead and injured.

[16:41] Clashes raged on Wednesday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria as violence sparked by a bloody crackdown on Cairo protest camps in support of ousted president Mohamed Morsi spread across Egypt.

[14:40] Turkey branded the deadly crackdown in Egypt on protesters loyal to ousted president Mohamed Morsi Wednesday as "unacceptable" and called on the international community to act immediately to halt the "massacre."

[14:37] Iran condemned what it called a "massacre" in Egypt as police moved on Wednesday to clear protests in Cairo by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, Fars news agency reported.

[13:18] Egypt's Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's main seat of learning, on Wednesday distanced itself from the crackdown on protesters loyal to ousted president Mohamed Morsi which left dozens dead.

[12:47] German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle urged supporters of Egypt's interim government and its ousted president Mohamed Morsi to renounce violence amid a deadly crackdown on protests Wednesday.

[10:57] Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said at least 250 people were killed and over 5,000 injured Wednesday in a police crackdown on two major protest camps held by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

[10:33] Egypt's Interior Ministry said security forces have "total control" over the smaller of two protest camps in an operation Wednesday to clear away supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.